Non-maleficence

Non-maleficence suggests that a proposed research project involving human participants should not cause them harm. To take an extreme example, research projects seeking to interview child abusers face particularly difficult problems since they may uncover evidence which incriminates those being interviewed, but which serves to protect other people. Such research, although ethically contentious, may still be allowable, but it does need very careful ethical inspection and monitoring. At a less dramatic level, questionnaire-surveys may contain unnecessarily intrusive and/or personal questions. In addition, if insufficient attention is paid to such issues as question design or sample size, questionnaire-surveys and other related forms of research may simply waste the time of respondents.

Beneficence

Beneficence suggests that research projects, especially those involving people [or higher animals, should strive positively to bring benefit. Even if no harm is being done, good research should still aim to benefit people or their environment, particularly when it involves the use of other people's time (researchers may also need to consider carefully whether it is possible or desirable to pay/compensate participants for the use of their time).

Autonomy

Autonomy suggests that, when there are human participants in research projects, they should be treated with respect, be properly informed, give their consent voluntarily and without coercion, and have their confidentiality fully respected. In short people should be treated as people and not simply as research objects. Properly informed consent causes many problems in research projects and it is crucial that ethics committees examine this aspect carefully. They must also look carefully at mechanisms to ensure that proper confidentiality for participants is assured. In addition, it is often good practice to report back the findings of a research project to those who have taken part as volunteers.

Justice

Justice suggests that research projects should also take into consideration the concerns of the whole of society and should be particularly vigilant about minority groups that might be disadvantaged by the research. The relative distribution of resources for research projects is often contentious for this reason.

 

These, then, are four values or principles which have been widely recognised as providing some basis for consensus in medical ethics and research involving human participants more widely. The list is not exhaustive, and there are of course other values that may need to be considered from subject to subject. There is, for example, the value of intellectual integrity grounded in the practice of research as the activity of an academic community. It encapsulates the idea that research is a shared and objective search for truth, not distorted by special interests. It means, in particular, that research might not be undertaken if it is funded by bodies which are looking for preconceived conclusions and liable to bias the investigation. It means also that the results of research should normally be made publicly available to the wider academic community, and should not be the private property of the funding body.

In summary, the researcher needs to consider whether a particular research project will:

• Harm the participants?
• Harm other individuals, groups or societies?
• Make unwarranted use of participants' time?
• Be too intrusive?
• Not involve properly informed consent?
• Not ensure participants' confidentiality?
  

It is required that all research projects, whether staff or student, have an ethics questionnaire completed for them and that where there are any ethical concerns they be reviewed by the Kent Business School REAG. Note that research involving the NHS or the ESRC has more stringent procedures and you should contact the Director of Research to discuss them. You may refer for further details to the Faculty Ethics Committee.

On this ethics section of the website you will find:

• Ethics procedures at Kent Business School.
• An Ethical approval form which must be completed and attached to the research proposal
• Example consent form
• Examples and guidance on the sort of ethical issues that may arise within research at the Business School.
  

For information on the Data Protection Act.

If you have any queries or comments about research ethics generally or about the content of this website then contact Professor John Mingers, Director of Research.